France has introduced a visa-free transit facility for Indian nationals and reaffirmed its target of welcoming 30,000 Indian students by 2030, alongside easing long-term visa norms aligned with academic course durations.
French President Emmanuel Macron has announced a visa-free transit facility for Indian nationals through French airports, alongside measures aimed at expanding academic mobility between the two countries. The move forms part of the upgraded India-France Special Global Strategic Partnership.
France currently hosts around 10,000 Indian students annually and aims to increase that number to 30,000 by 2030. Macron said the visa process for Indian students will be simplified, with long-term visas aligned to the duration of academic programmes, including PhD courses. The visa-free transit facility will be reviewed after a six-month pilot period.
During Macron’s official visit to India from February 17 to 19, 2026, both leaders launched the India-France Year of Innovation 2026, focusing on collaboration in science, technology, AI, healthcare and education. Planned initiatives include a binational digital sciences centre between INRIA and India’s Department of Science and Technology, and an AI healthcare research centre involving Sorbonne University, AIIMS New Delhi and the Paris Brain Institute.
The two sides also welcomed expanded academic cooperation and mutual recognition efforts.
[Source: Education Times]
